[09/13/12 - 09:40 AM]Showtime(R) Renews "Episodes" for Third SeasonProduction will begin in both Los Angeles and London next year on nine new episodes.

[via press release from Showtime]

SHOWTIME(R) RENEWS "EPISODES" FOR THIRD SEASON

Matt LeBlanc Returns in His Golden Globe(R) Award-Winning Role

LOS ANGELES, CA - September 13, 2012 - The Golden Globe-nominated SHOWTIME comedy series EPISODES has been renewed for a third season. The announcement was made today by David Nevins, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc. The critically-acclaimed co-production of SHOWTIME and the BBC will begin production, in both Los Angeles and London, next year on nine, half-hour installments.

EPISODES stars Matt LeBlanc in his Golden Globe Award-winning role as a fictionalized version of himself. "Sean and Beverly Lincoln," the husband and wife writing/producing duo lured to Hollywood are played by Stephen Mangan and Tamsin Greig; Kathleen Rose Perkins is "Carol Rance," the network's second-in-command programming executive; John Pankow is the recently deposed network head "Merc Lapidus;" and Mircea Monroe plays the age-defying actress "Morning Randolph." Season-to-date, EPISODES season 2 delivers 1.66 million weekly viewers across platforms (with eight full weeks of complete data). The series attracts a male skewed audience, with 78% of subscribers watching on a time-shifted basis - via replays, DVR, and On Demand.

The series is created and executive produced by award-winning writing partners David Crane ("Friends") & Jeffrey Klarik ("Mad About You"), and is also executive produced by Jimmy Mulville through his Hat Trick production company. In its first season, EPISODES garnered three Emmy nominations: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music; and earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Television Series, Comedy or Musical.